Handle for a trailer ball-mount

ABSTRACT

A gripping device provided with handles is adapted to engage the ball of a conventional trailer hitch as a convenience in handling the hitch when it is removed from the towing vehicle. The preferred form of the device provides a clam shell-type grasping assembly that is manipulated by handles having overlapped portions that together form the handle. These overlapped portions are locked releasably against separation, and accommodation is also provided for receiving a padlock maintaining the closure of the clam shell components whenever this becomes desirable. A simplified version of the device is formed by a piece of bent rod having portions providing the handle and also for gripping the ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The development of the design of house trailers has resulted in suchincreased size and weight that special attention has had to be appliedto the hitches that connect them to the towing vehicle. The so-called"equalizing hitch" has evolved in response to the need to control theweight added to the rear wheels of the vehicle. These hitches aresufficiently massive that it is not desirable to leave them mounted onthe vehicle when the hitch is not in use. Prevention of theft is also aconcern. The exterior configuration is a bit awkward to grasp andmanipulate directly by hand. The weight can come to around 60 pounds,and the surfaces of the device are often contaminated with dirt andgrease. The present invention provides a practical solution to thisproblem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A handle of convenient size is provided with means for grasping theconventional ball of a trailer hitch so that the hitch assembly can bemanipulated conveniently when it is removed from the towing vehicle. Inthe preferred form of the invention, the grasping device associated withthe handle is a clam shell assembly that grasps the ball, but leaves anopening for the stem connecting the ball to the hitch structure. Oncethe grasping device is locked in engagement, the handle forms aconvenient arrangement for carrying the hitch to a place of storage, andfor retrieving it for re-attachment to the towing vehicle. Thecomponents of the clam shell device are each attached to grippinghandles that are manipulated together, somewhat in the manner of icetongs. The clam shell is locked by devices interconnecting thesecomponents so that they cannot separate and release the grip of the clamshell. Provision is also made for receiving a padlock in alignedopenings in lateral extensions of the clam shell device. In a modifiedform of the invention, a piece of bent rod is provided with a hooksection engageable with the stem of the ball, but adapted to retain theball itself. This rod is provided with extensions from the hook to forma handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of the invention in theclosed and locked position, as it would be in engagement with a ball ofa trailer hitch.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an opposite side elevation with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of the invention with respectto the locking device.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation with respect to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a further modification of the invention withrespect to the locking device.

FIG. 8 is an elevation of a conventional ball fitting associated with atrailer hitch.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the inventionprovided by a single piece of bent rod.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the engaged position of the device on atrailer hitch that has been removed from the towing vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the generally hemispherical components 20 and 21are hinged together at 22 to form a clam shell-type gripping device. Thecomponents 20 and 21 are formed so that they together define an opening23 that receives the stem 24 (see FIG. 8) connecting the ball 25 to themounting flange 26 and the threaded bolt extension 27, which providesthe conventional arrangement for securing the ball to the weldmentconstituting the frame of the hitch.

Pieces of bent rod 28 and 29 are welded to the clam shell components 20and 21, respectively, and these members have the overlapped portions 30and 31 which form the handle with which an engaged hitch can bemanipulated, as shown in FIG. 10. In the modification shown in FIGS.1-4, the closed position of the device can be locked by swinging thelatch 32 from the clockwise dotted position appearing in FIG. 1 to thefull line position, in which the handle section 31 is entrapped betweenthe opposite sides of the latch 32. The portion 33 of the latch servesto structurally interconnect the sides, so that they function togetheras they are pivoted on the pin 34 traversing the handle portion 30. Thelatch is easily disengageable by shoving the portion 33 with the thumbor finger, thus releasing the portions 30 and 31 of the handle so thatthey can move independently. When it is desired to semi-permanently lockthe closed position of the device, a small padlock can be worked thruthe aligned openings 35 in the lateral extensions from the clam shellcomponents 20 and 21, with the precaution being taken that theconfiguration of the padlock does not permit a sufficient opening of theclam shell device to release the ball.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the invention, in which thehandle sections 36 and 37 of the clam shell device are held together bya lever 38 controlling a pin 39 adapted to traverse aligned openings inthe handle sections 36 and 37. A spring 40 biases the latch 38 to thedotted line position shown in FIG. 5, permitting the pin 39 to drop to aposition releasing the handle sections 36 and 37 to move independently.The clam shell device itself is otherwise exactly as previouslydescribed. The latch 38 is preferably pinned to the handle section 37 at41, with freedom to rotate between the two positions illustrated in FIG.5. When the unit is gripped as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure of thehand against the underside of the latch 38 appearing in FIGS. 5 and 6will deflect the spring 40, and maintain the closed position of the clamshell.

Referring to FIG. 7, a further modification of the invention isillustrated in which the locking action is provided by a simpleremovable pin 42 adapted to traverse aligned openings in the handlesections 43 and 44. The pin 42 is merely removed when it is desired torelease the clam shell device from the ball, or to engage the ball.

Referring to FIG. 9, a further modification of the device replaces theclam shell grasping assembly with a configuration of bent steel rod. Ahooked portion 45 is formed in the rod with a sufficient gap to receivethe stem 24 of the ball unit shown in FIG. 8. This gap, however, is toosmall to permit the ball 25 to escape. A lateral extension 46 from oneside of the hook 45 permits the angular offset 47 to clear the ball 25when the unit is held by the handle 48. A device of this type ispreferably formed from bent steel rod at least a half inch in diameter,in order to provide a comfortable grip at the handle 48, in view of thesignificant weight of the entire hitch assembly shown in FIG. 10.

We claim:
 1. In combination with a ball section of a trailer hitch, saidball section being normally removably mounted on a towing vehicle, adetachable handle, said section having a ball projection with arelatively smaller diameter stem, said handle comprising:grasping meansincluding a hook adapted to receive said stem and retain said ball, saidhook having a lateral extension beyond said ball, and also having anangular offset; and grip means secured to said offset to facilitatecarrying said ball section when removed from said vehicle, said handlebeing a unitary configuration of bent rod.
 2. In combination with a ballsection of a trailer hitch, said ball section being normally removablymounted on a towing vehicle, a detachable handle, said section having aball projection with a relatively smaller diameter stem, said handlecomprising:a clam shell device constituting grasping means and havinghinged components defining an opening adapted to receive said stem, andgrip means including members secured to each of the said clam shellcomponents, respectively, portions of said members being overlapped in aclosed position of said clam shell device; and locking means engagingsaid overlapped portions in said closed position, said locking meansincluding a latch pivoted to one of said portions and adapted to swingto and from a position engaging the other of said portions.